Elderly woman robbed of $4,000 in police scam

PEORIA — A man claiming to be a police officer in another state scammed an elderly Peoria woman out of $4,000 on Thursday.

The 84-year-old victim told police a man called her claiming to have her grandson in custody in Florida on a marijuana charge that had $2,000 bail, according to a report on the incident.

He told her to put the money on a prepaid debit card and call back with the number. After doing so, the purported police officer said he needed another $2,000. The woman complied with that request, as well.

When the man called back a third time asking for more money, the woman grew suspicious and called Peoria police. The suspect called the woman while an officer was at her house, but hung up after the Peoria officer got on the phone and asked questions.